[knzhou]

I've visited senators and representatives and they called me a threat to this country, to my face, knowing full well that I was a US citizen.

Maybe you've had less experience with politicians. Maybe you look less Asian. Maybe you're just naive. I can't know which it is, but I'm sure they think the same of you as me.

[_gccu]

You realize that you're the racist here for pulling the race card, right? I'm not on your side just because you're Asian. I'm interested in the general well being of ALL people, Asian or not, in the US. I'm sorry you were mistreated, but you made a wrong assumption that I am, or that I will, and you're trying to get me to be on your "side"? I don't like presumptuous people.

[knzhou]

I don't have a "side". On one hand, I was born in mainland China. On the other hand, my parents were almost gunned down at Tiananmen square. We came to America to try to leave that behind, and yet still the senators presume I'm a CCP agent! All it took was the wrong kind of name and face.

I could go on with more of my sob stories, but I can tell you won't take bullshit. The point is: I don't know or care about the geopolitics of the South China Sea. All I know is, when xenophobia rises in the US, the CCP is not actually going to be hurt one bit. The only people that will be targeted will be us.

[_gccu]

Thanks for sharing your story. It's rough for immigrants and I can certainly sympathize. I've seen the news of extremely racist things done to Asians in America due to this virus.

Let's unpack what you said here:

"you're going to be treated just as badly as me, because they can't tell the difference between us"

1. That's an assumption of yours that I simply don't agree with. IDK where in the US you are, and it sounds like that's going on where you are, but I haven't seen it where I am and don't expect it. The US is HUGE and you can't just extrapolate like that.

2. I'd be careful about your usage of the word "they" and "us" in this sentence. Are you generalizing that most non-Asian Americans are racist ("they"), and defining "us" as the Asian Americans? Because if you start assuming that, that's just very negative and if Asian Americans ALL start acting that way, it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. That's why I said I'm not on your "side", because I don't want to see sides.

I prefer thinking of us all (all Americans, regardless of race) as "we". Sure there are some racists, and I react accordingly, but I don't just assume that. Ultimately, if you are dealing with a bunch of legit racists and can't change them, then maybe you should ask yourself why you want to continue living and working where you are, and dealing with those. Lots of options in America.

Where I am, I rarely feel that I am mistreated and have no reason to expect it. That's my data point for you.

[knzhou]

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I just have to add one thing: just like you, all ordinary people I've met have treated me just fine. I'm not worried about the couple nutjobs in every city going around beating up Asians, they're a rounding error.

When I say "they", I mean people with power, such as politicians and journalists. Naturally, this is a category that excludes Asians, by design. I'm willing to bet that I've interacted with these people far more than you have, and I can assure you that they're far more racist than ordinary people. Unfortunately, they also are in charge of telling ordinary people what to do and think.